Receiver driven money transfer alert system

ABSTRACT

A method for performing a money transfer initiated by a receiver of the money transfer, wherein the method includes receiving a money transfer initiation request from the receiver and the money transfer initiation request includes an amount of funds to be transferred, receiver information, and sender information. The method also includes staging a money transfer transaction after receiving the money transfer initiation request, wherein the money transfer transaction is pending an authorization by the sender to fund the money transfer. The method further includes providing the sender with a notification of the money transfer transaction, receiving the authorization to fund the money transfer transaction, and executing the money transfer to transfer the funds from the sender to the receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Money transfers are a common and convenient way to send and receivefunds. Money transfers are commonly done to transfer funds across stateand/or country borders and/or to pay for goods and services. Moneytransfers are normally initiated by a sender of funds where the senderprovides information about a receiver (e.g., the receiver's name,account information, address, etc.) to a money transfer provider, suchas Western Union corporation. Currently, however, some money transfertransactions fail due to the sender providing incorrect receiverinformation. For example, the sender may incorrectly spell thereceiver's name and/or provide an incorrect bank account number oraddress for the receiver. These failures can be frustrating for both thesender and the receiver because a pending transaction may be delayedwhile the sender and/or money transfer provider corrects die error. Thereceiver may be additionally frustrated because the receiver may dependon die funds to pay one or more bids.

In some situation, the receiver may be hesitant to provide the senderwith certain information necessary to perform a money transfer (e.g.,bank account information, name, address, etc.). This may be especiallytrue when the receiver is unfamiliar with the sender. For example, thereceiver may be an individual that participates in online sales, such asan online auction. The sender may be a purchaser or winning bidder forone of the receiver's online auctions. In such an instance, the receivermay feel uneasy about providing the sender with account informationand/or name and address information because the receiver is unfamiliarwith the sender beyond, the online transaction. Because money transfersare initiated by the sender, a money transfer may not be possible due tothe receiver's hesitancy in providing this information.

In addition, because the receiver, in most instances, is the ultimatebeneficiary of the money transfer, the receiver may be more willing tobear the burden of initiating a money transfer and ensuring that all theinformation provided is correct. However, this burden currently remainswith the sender. Embodiments of the present invention solve these andother problems currently associated with money transfers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various systems, methods, and devices are described for receiver drivenmoney transfers. Such arrangements may allow for a money transfertransaction to be conducted where the receiver bears the burden ofinitiating and setting up the money transfer transaction. The moneytransfer transaction may be set up by the receiver so that the sender offunds need merely to provide, an authorization to fund the moneytransfer and to provide the funds for the money transfer in order forthe money transfer to be executed.

According to one embodiment, a method for performing a money transfermay occur at a money transfer host system, where the money transfer isinitiated by a receiver of the money transfer. The method may includereceiving a money transfer initiation request at the money transfer hostsystem (it should be noted that the request is referred to as both amoney transfer initiation request and as a money transfer requestthroughout the specification, but that both requests refer to the samerequest). The money transfer initiation request may include an amount offunds to be transferred to the receiver. The money transfer initiationrequest may further include receiver information. The receiverinformation may optionally identify the receiver (e.g., provide thereceiver's actual name or online name) and identify an account to whichthe funds will be transferred. The money transfer initiation request mayadditionally include sender information. The sender information mayidentify a sender (e.g., provide the sender's real name or online name)and identify a communication address associated with the sender. Thesender information may also include account information for an accountthat the receiver requests to receive the funds from, such as a sender'sbank account.

The method may also include staging a money transfer transaction afterreceiving the money transfer initiation request. The staged moneytransfer transaction may be pending an authorization by the sender tofund the money transfer. Staging a money transfer transaction mayinclude ensuring that the money transfer complies with at least onemoney transfer regulation. Ensuring that the money transfer transaction,complies with at least one money transfer regulation may occur prior tothe sender providing authorization to fond the money transfer.

The method may further include providing the sender with a notificationof the money transfer transaction via the communication address. Thenotification may indicate the amount of funds to be transferred and atleast some of the receiver information. Additionally, the notificationmay include a payment facilitator such as a transactionidentifier-generated by the money transfer host system or a hyperlink inan email. The payment facilitator may enable the sender to provide theauthorization to fund, the money transfer by merely providing thepayment facilitator to the money transfer host system (e.g., sending thetransaction identifier to the host system or responding to thehyperlink). The notification may further include the account informationfor the account that the receiver requests to receive funds from (e.g.,the senders bank account).

The method, may additionally include receiving the authorization tofluid the money transfer transaction and executing the money transfer totransfer the funds from the sender to the receiver. If the notificationto the sender includes account information for the sender's accountdesignated by the receiver, the authorization may include an instructionto provide the funds from an account other than the designated account.

The method, may additionally include generating a transaction identifierfor the money transfer transaction. The transaction, identifier may beprovided to either or both the sender and the receiver. Additionally oralternatively, the receiver may provide the transaction identifier tothe sender. Receiving the authorization may include receiving thetransaction identifier from the sender.

The method may additionally include receiving a funds designation fromthe receiver. The fond designation may provide instructions forallocating the funds of the money transfer after the funds are receivedfrom the sender. The funds for the money transfer may be received fromthe sender and automatically allocated in accordance with the fundsdesignation.

The method may additionally include a money transfer initiation servicewhere the sender and/or receiver are enrolled in the money transferinitiation service. The money transfer initiation service may provideone or more of die following services: automatic money transferinitiation requests and staging for the receiver; one or more automaticreminders to the sender to provide funds for the money transfertransaction; automatic notification to the sender that the receiver isrequesting funds; and pre-approved funding of the money transfertransaction.

The method may additionally include storing the receiver information andthe sender information on die magnetic stripe of a presentationinstrument. In such an embodiment, the money transfer initiation requestmay be provided to the money transfer host system upon the receiverpresenting the presentation instrument to a magnetic stripe readingdevice and upon the receiver providing the amount of funds to betransferred.

In some embodiments, the receiver may be a merchant and the sender maybe a customer of the merchant. In such, embodiments, die money transferinitiation request may comprise a payment notice from the merchant for agood and/or a service rendered. In such embodiments, the method mayinclude receiving the payment notice, extracting the sender informationtorn the payment notice, and staging the money transfer transactionafter receiving the payment notice. The method may also includeproviding the notification to the customer where the notificationincludes the payment notice. The method may further include receivingthe authorization from the customer to provide funds where the fundswill be used to pay for a good and/or service rendered. The moneytransfer may be executed to transfer the funds from the customer to themerchant to pay for the good and/or service rendered.

The method, may additionally include involving a second sender in themoney transfer. In such an embodiment, the money transfer initiationrequest may include second sender information, where the second senderinformation identifies a second sender and identities a secondcommunication address associated with the second, sender. The embodimentmay also include a total amount of funds to be received from either thefirst sender, the second sender, or both. The embodiment may furtherinclude providing the first sender and the second sender with thenotification via the first communication address and the secondcommunication address, respectively. Similarly, additional senders(e.g., third sender, fourth sender, etc.) may be involved in the moneytransfer. The additional senders may each have a respectivecommunication address so that the additional senders can each beprovided with the notification.

The embodiment may additionally include receiving an authorization tofund at least a portion of the money transfer transaction from eitherthe first sender, the second sender, or both. The method mayadditionally include receiving the funds from either the first sender,the second sender, or both and executing a money transfer to transferthe funds from the first sender, the second sender, or both to thereceiver. The embodiment may additionally include applying the fundstowards the total amount of funds and providing the first sender and thesecond, sender with an indication of the applied funds in relation tothe total amount of funds requested. Similarly, when additional sendersare involved in the money transfer (e.g., third sender, fourth sender,etc.), an authorization to fund at least a portion of the money transfertransaction can be received from any or all of die senders. Likewise, anindication of the total amount of funds received can be provided to anyor all the senders.

Another embodiment of the invention may include a system for performinga money transfer that is initiated by the receiver of the moneytransfer. The system may include a communication interface that isconfigured to provide communication between the system and the receiverand/or a sender of the funds. The system may also include a memorycomponent that is configured to store one or more instructions. Thesystem may further include a processor that is communicatively coupledwith the memory component. The processor may be configured to receivethe instructions from the memory component where the instructions directthe processor to enable the system to perform the money transferoperations.

The money transfer operations performed by the system may includereceiving from the receiver via the communication, interface, a moneytransfer initiation request. The money transfer initiation request mayinclude an amount of funds to be transferred to the receiver, receiverinformation, and sender information. The receiver information mayidentify the receiver and/or identify an account to which the funds willbe transferred. The sender information may identify a sender and/oridentify a communication address associated with the sender.

The money transfer operations may also include staging a money transfertransaction after receiving the money transfer initiation request wherethe money transfer transaction is pending an acceptance by the sender tofund the money transfer. The money transfer operations may furtherinclude providing the sender with a notification of the money transfertransaction via the communication address. The notification may indicatethe amount of funds to be transferred and/or at least a portion of thereceiver information.

The money transfer operations may further include receiving horn thesender via the communication interface, the authorization to fund themoney transfer transaction. The money transfer operations mayadditionally include executing the money transfer to transfer the fundsfrom the sender to the receiver.

Another embodiment of the invention may include a method for performinga money transfer that is initiated by a receiver on a wireless device.The method may include providing a transfer application to the wirelessdevice from a host computer system. The transfer application may beconfigured to communicate with a contact list associated with thewireless device, identify a sender of the funds from the contact list,and obtain sender information associated with, the sender from thecontact list.

The method may also include receiving a money transfer request at thehost system, where the money transfer request is generated by thewireless device. The money transfer request may include an amount offunds to transfer to the receiver, receiver information, and/or senderinformation. The receiver information may identify the receiver and/oridentity an account to which the funds will be transferred. The senderinformation may identify the sender and/or identify a communicationaddress associated with the sender.

The method may further include staging a money transfer transactionafter receiving the money transfer request, where the money transfertransaction is pending an authorization by the sender to fund the moneytransfer. The method may additionally include providing the sender witha notification of the money transfer transaction, via the communicationaddress. The notification may indicate the amount offends to betransferred and/or at least a portion of the receiver information. Themethod may additionally include receiving the authorization to fund themoney transfer transaction and executing the money transfer to transferthe funds from the sender to the receiver.

The method may further include a wireless device associated with thesender, where the sender's wireless device is also configured to includethe transfer application. The notification to the sender may be providedto the sender's wireless device and/or to the transfer application onthe sender's wireless device. Additionally, the authorization to fundthe money transfer may be received, from the sender's wireless deviceand/or received from the transfer application on the sender's wirelessdevice. The transfer application, may also be configured to obtainsender information from a source other than the contact list associatedwith the receiver's wireless device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a money transfer system forperforming receiver initiated money transfers according to embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another block diagram illustrating a money transfer system forperforming receiver initiated money transfers according to embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a money transfer system forperforming receiver initiated money transfers using a mobile deviceaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a money transfer system forperforming receiver initiated money transfers according to embodimentsof the present invention wherein the receiver is a merchant and thesender is a customer of the merchant.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process for performing a receiver initiated moneytransfer according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another process for performing a receiver initiatedmoney transfer according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process for performing a receiver initiated moneytransfer according to embodiments of the present invention wherein themoney transfer is initiated using a mobile device.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for performing a receiver initiated moneytransfer according to embodiments of the present invention wherein themoney transfer is authorized using a mobile device.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system that is capableof performing the methods and operations of systems according to theembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various systems, methods, and devices are described for receiver drivenmoney transfers. Such arrangements may allow for a money transfertransaction to be conducted where the receiver bears the burden ofinitiating or generating the money transfer transaction. The moneytransfer transaction may be generated so that the sender of funds needmerely to provide an authorization to fluid the money transfer and toprovide the funds for the money transfer in order for the money transferto be executed.

Currently, a sender of funds in a money transfer transaction is oftenrequired to initiate and/or set up the money transfer transaction inorder to transfer funds to a receiver. To initiate and/or set up themoney transfer transaction, the sender is responsible for providingaccurate information about the receiver and/or about the sender. Theinformation may include the receiver's name, address, accountinformation (i.e., to where the funds are to be transferred), phonenumber, M-wallet information, etc. The information may also include thesender's name, address, account information (i.e., from where the fundsare to be transferred), phone number, M-wallet information, etc. Thesender may need to communicate with the receiver in order to obtain thereceiver's information for the money transfer transaction. On occasion amoney transfer transaction may fail due to die sender providingincomplete or inaccurate information about the receiver and/or about thesender. The information may be incomplete or inaccurate due to thesender's mistake (e.g., substituting or switching a number in anaccount, providing an incorrect spelling of a name, etc.) or may be theresult of miscommunication cation between the receiver and the sender(e.g., the sender misses a number in an account or misunderstands thespelling of the receiver's name or bank during die communication, etc.).

In some instances, the receiver may be hesitant or may feel uneasy aboutsharing personal information with the sender. For example, in some moneytransfer transactions, the sender and receiver may not know each otherbeyond the money transfer transaction (e.g., an online seller and buyer,etc.). Due to this relationship, the receiver may not feel comfortablesharing account information and/or other personal information with thesender (e.g., the sender may only know the receiver's online name andnot the receiver's actual, name). Because the sender is required toprovide the receiver's information to initiate the money transfertransaction, the receiver's hesitancy does not allow for a moneytransfer transaction to occur.

In addition, since the receiver of the money transfer may be theultimate beneficiary of the money transfer, the receiver may be moremotivated and/or willing to initiate the money transfer and/or to ensurethat all the information provided is accurate. Further, current problemsassociated with money transfer transactions may be alleviated byenabling the receiver to initiate and set up the money transfertransaction. For example, the receiver may frequently request that asender provide funds to one or more different accounts and/or locations;or the receiver may frequently change accounts (e.g., change bankaccounts, close old accounts, change from savings to checking accounts,etc.). Such sporadic behavior places a large burden on the sender toensure that a money transfer is properly initiated because the sendermust continually provide new and/or different account information to themoney transfer host system when initiating a money transfer transaction.This behavior may cause one or more money transfers to fail because thesender may be prone to making a mistake due to the frequent changes. Inaddition, mistakes may be made because the sender is busy and/or lessconcerned with ensuring that the money transfer will occur. The presentinvention solves these and other problems as is realized below withreference to the figures and embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a money transfer system 100 forperforming receiver initiated money transfers. The system 100 mayinclude a money transfer host system 120, which may be operated or usedby a money transfer service provider such as a bank, kiosk, moneytransfer service (e.g. Western Union corporation), point of sale deviceat a grocery or convenience store, etc. The money transfer host system120 may include one or more components, which may be hardware and/orsoftware components, such as a communication interface 104, a compliancemodule 108, a memory components and/or a processor 106. The moneytransfer host provider 120 may also be configured to include or beoperational with a rules database 11 b. The transaction or method, stepsfor performing the money transfer may occur at the money transfer hostsystem 120.

The money transfer transaction may include staging a money transfertransaction at the money transfer host system 120 after receiving amoney transfer initiation request from the receiver 102. The moneytransfer transaction may be pending an acceptance by a sender 102 tofund the money transfer (it should be noted that the request is referredto as both a money transfer initiation request and as a money transferrequest throughout the specification, but that both requests refer tothe same request). Staging the money transfer transaction, may includereceiving all the information necessary for the money transfertransaction at the money transfer host system 120 prior to notifying thesender 102 of the money transfer transaction. Because all the necessaryinformation is received at the money transfer host system 120, the moneytransfer may be executed upon the sender providing an authorization tofund the money transfer and/or upon the sender providing funds for themoney transfer. In this manner the receiver bears the burden ofinitiating and setting up the money transfer, which burden is currentlycarried by the sender.

Communication interface 104 may be configured to provide communicationbetween the system, and the receiver and/or the sender 102. FIG. 1depicts element 102 as both the sender and receiver to show that themoney transfer host system 120 may communicate with both the sender andthe receiver 102 and to show that the sender and receiver 102 may bothuse any of a plurality of communication devices 112 to communicate withthe money transfer host system. 120. The communication interface 104 mayprovide a communication link between the money transfer host system 120and the plurality of communication devices 112 so that information maybe exchanged between the money transfer host system 120 and the senderand/or receiver 102. The communication interface 104 may further providecommunication between the money transfer host system 120 and one or morerules databases 116 to obtain and/or provide rules for the moneytransfer transaction, such as obtaining any rules provided by the senderand/or receiver 102 or any rules or regulations established by law.

Memory component 110 may be configured to store one or more instructionsthat may be executed by the processor 106 in order to perform the moneytransfer transaction. Memory component 110 may be either long termmemory (e.g., ROM, etc.), short term memory (e.g., RAM, etc.), or acombination of both. The memory component 110 may permanently store theone or more instructions or obtain the one or more instructions from oneor more databases (not shown) that are contained within or remote to themoney transfer host system 120.

Processor 106 may be communicatively coupled with the memory component110 so that the processor 106 may receive the one or more instructionsfrom the memory component 110. The processor 106 may execute the one ormore instructions and the instructions may direct the processor 106 toenable the money transfer host system 120 to perform the money transferoperations. For example, the instructions may direct the processor 106to enable the communication interface 104 to obtain and provideinformation to the plurality of communication devices 112 so that thereceiver and/or sender 102 may communicate with die money transfer hostsystem 120 and initiate the money transfer transaction. Through thecommunication interface 104, the processor 106 may request and receiverone or more pieces of information from the receiver and/or sender 102and/or receive one or more instructions from the sender and/or receiver102. The processor 106 may further enable the money transfer host system120 to communicate and operate with a financial transfer network 130and/or the rules database 116 to perform the money transfer operations.

Compliance module 108 may be used to ensure that the money transfercomplies with one or more rules or regulations, such as governmentregulations. For example, the money transfer service provider operatingmoney transfer system 100 may be required to comply with variousgovernment regulations (possibly varying by country) intended to preventfraudulent and/or illegal use of money transfer systems. An example of acompliance measure that the money transfer service provider may use is alist of persons feat the money transfer service provider is prohibitedfrom doing business with published by the Office of Foreign AssetControl (OFAC). The money transfer service provider may be required bylaw to not do business with (e.g., as a payor or payee) personspublished on such a list. Other compliance measures may includegathering additional information about payors and payees conducting amoney transfer that exceeds a particular amount and/or is international.Money transfer transactions being conducted with cash may also includeadditional compliance measures. Therefore, depending on the location ofthe payor and payee, the amount of the money transfer, and the paymentmethod, each money transfer may be subjected to varying levels ofexamination and regulation by compliance module 116.

The money transfer operations performed by the money transfer system 100may include receiving from the receiver 102 via the communicationinterface 104, a money transfer initiation, request. The money transferinitiation request may include, among other things, an amount offends tobe transferred to the receiver, receiver information, and/or senderinformation. The receiver information may identify the receiver and/oridentify one or more accounts to which, the funds will be transferred(e.g., bank account, cash pickup from an agent of the money transferservice, loading a prepaid card, M-wallet, etc.). The sender informationmay identify a sender, identify a communication address associated withthe sender, and/or identify one or more accounts from which the receiveris requesting that the funds be provided.

The communication devices 112 may be configured to enable the receiverand/or sender 102 to communicate with the money transfer host system 120and thereby provide and receiver instructions to and from the moneytransfer host system 120. The communication devices may include theInternet 112 a, an interactive voice response (IVR) program. 112 b, anagent of the money transfer service at a physical location/online orcustomer service call center (CSC) 112 c, and/or a mobile device 112 d.For example, via a wireless device 112 d (e.g. the receiver's cellphone) or an IVR 112 b program, the money transfer host system 120 mayreceive the money transfer initiation request from the receiver 102.Similarly, the money transfer host system 120 may provide the sender 102with a notification of an initiated money transfer transaction via theInternet 112 a (e.g., an email notification) or through the wirelessdevice 1124 (e.g., SMS message to the sender's cell phone). Thenotification may indicate the amount of funds to be transferred and/ormay indicate a portion of the receiver information, likewise, the sender102 can provide the money transfer host system 120, via an agent 112 cof the money transfer service, with an authorization that indicates thesender's willingness to fund the money transfer transaction.

The money transfer host system 120 may execute or otherwise perform atransfer of fends from the sender to the receiver by operating with orotherwise utilizing a financial transfer network 130. Through thefinancial transfer network 130 the funds may be transferred from thecontrol of the sender to the control of the receiver, for example bytransferring the funds from one or more senders' accounts 140 to thereceiver's account 150. The sender or sender's accounts 140 and thereceivers account or accounts 150 may be any of a variety of accounts.For example, the accounts may be checking account, savings account,credit card account, prepaid card, account, a M-wallet account on amobile device, an account with the money transfer service so that thecash may be provided to or received from an agent of the money transferservice, or any other type of account. A variety of different types oftransfers may be performed using the different accounts. For example,the sender may transfer funds from an M-wallet account to a receiver'smoney transfer service account so that the receiver can pick up the cashfrom any of a plurality of physical locations of the money transferservice or the sender can send the money from a credit card or prepaidcard account to a sender's M-wallet, bank account, or prepaid card(e.g., the funds are loaded onto the prepaid card), etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates another block diagram of a money transfer system 200for performing receiver initiated money transfers. The money transfersystem 200 may include one or more similar components to system 100 suchas the money transfer host system 250, a plurality of communicationdevices 212 that the receiver 202 and/or sender(s) 205 a may use tocommunicate with the money transfer host system 250, a communicationinterface (not shown), processor (not shown), etc. FIG. 2 specificallyshows the receiver 202 communicating with the money transfer host system250 to initiate one or more money transfer transactions that requestthat a plurality of senders 205 a-c provide funds for the one or moremoney transfer transactions. The plurality of senders 205 a-c maylikewise communicate with the money transfer host system 120 via avariety of communication device (blocks 205 a-c show communicationthrough a mobile device 205 a, the internet 205 b, and an agent 205 c)to either accept (authorize) to provide funds or deny to provide funds.The money transfer initiation request may be a request for the pluralityof senders 205 a-c to fund a single money transfer transaction or may bea request that the plurality of senders 205 a-c fund a plurality ofmoney transfer transactions (e.g., a request that sender 205 a fond afirst money transfer transaction while senders 205 be fund a secondmoney transfer transaction).

For example, the receiver 202 may request that senders 205 a-c provide$1500 in a money transfer. Each sender 205 ac may provide anauthorization to the money transfer host system 120 to fund all or aportion of the money transfer request. As the money transfer host system250 receives the funds from the senders 20 $acs the money transfer hostsystem 250 may pool or otherwise accumulate the funds into a singleaccount and provide a notice to the receiver 202 and/or senders 205 a-cabout the total amount of funds provided as well as a notice about thetotal amount of funds requested. In this way the senders 205 a-c may beinformed about the amount offends needed to meet the receiver request.Alternatively, the funds may be provided to the receiver as soon as theyare received, but the money transfer host system 250 may keep a tally ofthe total amount received, which may be provided to the receiver 202and/or senders 250 a-c. The receiver may further request that thesenders 205 a-c provide the funds front a specific account (e.g., sender205 a provides funds from a visa account, sender 203 b provides fundsfrom a checking account, and sender 205 c provides cash to an agent ofthe money transfer service).

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram a money transfer system 300 forperforming receiver initiated money transfers using a-mobile device. Thesystem 300 may include a money transfer host system 310 that isconfigured to communicate with a receiver's mobile device 302 and/or asender's mobile device 312. Communication may be facilitated through acommunication interface (not shown) as previously described. The moneytransfer host system 310 may further be configured to communicate orotherwise operate with a mobile device network provider 320 and afinancial transfer network 330 to transfer funds from a sender's account345 and/or a sender's M-wallet account 315 to a receiver's account 350and/or a receiver's M-wallet account 305. The sender and/or receiver'smobile devices, 312 & 302 respectively, may include a transferapplication, 318 & 308 respectively, that facilitates in performing themoney transfer transaction. The transfer applications 308 & 312 may beconfigured to access a contact list on the mobile device and obtaininformation from the contact list that may be used to initiate a moneytransfer request. Further, the transfer application 308 & 312 may beconfigured to provide and receive messages (e.g., SMS, MMS, etc.) to themobile device network, operator 320, the money transfer host system 310,or both to perform the money transfer transaction.

For example, to initiate a money transfer request, the receiver mayaccess the transfer application 308 on the receiver's mobile device 302and select one or more senders to receive funds from. The transferapplication may provide indicia on the mobile device (e.g., a selectionbutton displayed on the screen) for each individual in the mobiledevice's contact list so that the receiver can quickly select a senderby selecting the indicia (e.g., pressing one of the displayed buttons).In addition, the transfer application can include indicia for otherentities (e.g., businesses) that the receiver desires to include aspotential senders. Using the information from the contact list and/orthe information the receiver provides, the transfer application maygenerate a money transfer initiation request that may be provided toeither the mobile device network provider 320, the money transfer hostsystem 310, or both to initiate the money transfer. The money transferinitiation-request may be in the form of an SMS or MMS message or anyother form of electronic communication. The money transfer host system310 and/or the mobile device network provider 320 can mute the requestand/or a notification to the sender's mobile device 312 to notify thesender of the request. After receiving the request and/or notification,the sender can accept or deny to provide the funds and send anauthorization response to the money transfer host system 310 and/or themobile device network provider 320 via the transfer application 31B.

The request may indicate the amount of funds to provide and may alsoindicate an account to provide the funds from (e.g., the sender'sM-wallet 315). The money transfer host system 310 may communicate orotherwise operate with the financial transfer network 330 and/or themobile device network operator 320 to transfer the funds from the senderto the receiver (e.g., from the sender's M-wallet account 315 to thereceiver's M-wallet account 305, from the sender's M-wallet account 315or sender account 345 to the receiver's account 350, etc.)

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a money transfer system 400 forperforming receiver initiated money transfers that involve one or moreproviders 402 and a customer 404 of the provider(s). In FIG. 4, theprovider 402 is similar to the receiver described in FIGS. 1-3, whilethe customer 404 is similar to the sender described in those Figs. Thesystem 400 may include a money transfer host system 410 that is similarto the host systems of FIGS. 1-3. The money transfer host system 410 maybe configured to communicate or otherwise operate with a financialtransfer network 430 to transfer funds from the customer's account 450to the provider's account 445 to pay for a good and/or service renderedby the provider. The provider 402 may be any type of merchant that sellsa variety of goods (e.g., online merchant, department store, etc.)and/or may be any type of service provider that provides a variety ofservices (e.g., utility company dentist, etc.).

The provider 412 may provide a payment notice (e.g., a hill) to themoney transfer host system 410 that the customer 404 is responsible for.The money transfer host system 410 may generate a money transferinitiation request from the payment notice and may provide anotification to the customer 404 of the money transfer request.Alternatively, the provider 402 may generate the money transferinitiation request and provide the request to the money transfer hostsystem 410. To generate the money transfer initiation request, the moneytransfer host system 410 may extract information from the payment noticefor the customer and/or for the provider (e.g., extract the customer'sname, address, account number with the provider, extract the provider'saddress, account information, etc.). Additionally and/or alternatively,the money transfer host system 410 may communicate with a database 415associated with the provider 402 to obtain information about thecustomer 404 and/or the provider 402 (e.g., obtain the customer's name,address, account information, amount due, provider's information, etc.).

The money transfer host system 410 may also communication with anaccount database 425 maintained by the money transfer host system 410 toobtain information about the customer 404 and/or provider 402. Forexample, the customer 404 may have an account with the money transferservice provider that operates the money transfer host system (e.g., abank account, M-wallet account, etc.). The money transfer host system410 can communicate with database 425 to obtain information associatedwith this account (e.g., account number, customer's address, etc.). Themoney transfer host system 410 may send a notification to the customer404 about the payment notice and receive an authorization from thecustomer 404 that indicates that the customer will provide funds for themoney transfer to pay for the goods and/or services rendered by theprovider 402.

The money transfer host system 410 may also have a bill aggregator 420that aggregates multiple payment notices from one or more providers 402.The money transfer host system 410 may send the aggregated bill and/or anotification of tire aggregated bill to the customer 404 and receive oneor more authorizations from the customer 404 that indicate thecustomer's willingness to fund one or more money transfers. In oneembodiment, the customer 404 may provide a single authorization and mayprovide sufficient funds in a single money transfer to cover all theaggregated, payment notices. The money transfer host system 410 coulddivide the funds between the payment notices to pay the one or moreproviders 402 for the goods and/or service rendered.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process 500 for performing a receiver initiatedmoney transfer. The process 500 may begin at block 510 with a moneytransfer host system (e.g., money transfer host system 120) receiving amoney transfer initiation request from a receiver via a communicationdevice as previously discussed. The money transfer initiation requestmay include an amount of fends to transfer to the receiver, and mayfurther include receiver information and/or sender information. Inaddition, the money transfer initiation request may include a schedulethat provides a date when the money transfer request is to be initiated.For example, the receiver may provide the money transfer host systemwith all information necessary to perform a money transfer transaction(e.g., sender's name, address, account information, etc.). The receivermay then schedule to have the money transfer request initiated a monthfront when the information was provided or, alternatively, may scheduleto have a money transfer request initiated every month on the same day(e.g., every first Tuesday of the month, every 3^(rd), etc.). Schedulingthe money transfer initiation request may be advantageous where thereceiver will make repeated money transfer request such as when thereceiver is the spouse of a migrant worker and the receiver relies onthe spouses' monthly money transfers to pay one or more bills.

At blocks 520 the money transfer host system, receives the receiverinformation. The receiver information may optionally identify thereceiver. The identification may be the receiver's name or may be arepresentation of the receiver such as a portion of the receiver's nameor an online identification of the receiver (e.g., a receiver's onlinename that the sender is familiar with). In this manner the receiver mayprotect sensitive information from the sender. The receiver informationmay also include an account to which the funds will be transferred(e.g., M-wallet account information, money transfer service account,etc.).

At block 530, the money transfer host system, receives the senderinformation. The sender information may identify the sender and/oridentify a communication address (e.g., email address, phone number,mailing address, etc.) associated, with the sender. The identificationof the sender may be the sender's name or may be an representation ofthe sender (e.g., a sender's online name) that the money transfer hostsystem is familiar with. Additionally, if the sender has an account withthe money transfer host system, the host system may obtain the sender'scommunication address by communicating with a database. Further, thesender in formation may include an identification of an account that thereceiver desires to receive the funds from and/or may identify aplurality of senders to receive funds from.

The sender and/or receiver may be enrolled in a money transferinitiation service. Enrollment in the money transfer initiation servicemay provide the sender and/or receiver with one or more of the followingservices; automatic money transfer initiation requests upon receiving afund, amount and an identification of a sender; automatic staging of themoney transfer transaction upon receiving the amount and senderidentification; one or more automatic reminders to the sender to providefunds for a staged money transfer transaction; automatic notification tothe sender upon initiating a money transfer initiation request; and/orpre-approved/automatic funding of the money transfer transaction basedon the selected sender.

In addition, the receiver and/or sender information may be stored on themagnetic stripe of a presentation instrument so that a money transferrequest is automatically initiated and provided to the money transferhost system upon the receiver presenting the presentation instrument toa magnetic stripe reading device and upon the receiver providing theamount of fends to be transferred.

At block 540, the money transfer host system may receive a fundsdesignation from the receiver. The funds designation may provideinstructions for allocating the funds of the money transfer. In otherwords, the receiver may pre-designate how the transferred funds aredistributed so that the transfer and application of the funds occurautomatically without any further input from the receiver. The receivermay also divide the allocation of the funds so that a portion of thefunds is allocated toward one payment while another portion is allocatedtoward a different payment. For example, the receiver may allocate $50of the funds to be used to pay for a utility bill while $150 of thefunds is provided to the receiver as cash. Similarly, a transferapplication, on the receiver's mobile device, such as the transferapplication described in FIG. 3, may include indicia (e.g., a buttondisplayed on the mobile device's screen) that associates a specificpurchase with a specific sender. For example, the indicia may associatea utility bill with the receiver's spouse so that when the utility billindicia is selected a money transfer request is initiated and sent tothe receiver's spouse for payment and so that the transferred funds areapplied to the utility bill upon receipt. Similarly, one or more onlineapplications and/or websites (e.g., an online auction site, a paymentsite for an online auction, etc.) may contain indicia that associatesone or more payments, with one or more senders and that automaticallygenerates a money transfer request upon selecting the indicia.

The funds designation or allocation information may also be stored onthe magnetic stripe of presentation, instrument (e.g., a card) so thatwhen the receiver uses the presentation, instrument for selectpurchases, a money transfer request is initiated for the purchases andsent to the sender. For example, the presentation instrument may nothave any funds associated with the presentation instrument, but ratherthe funds designation may be stored on the magnetic stripe of thepresentation instrument so that when the receiver purchases grocerieswith the presentation instrument, the funds designation directs a moneytransfer request to be initiated and sent to a pre-designated sender.The funds designation would fort her direct that any received funds beapplied to pay for the groceries. Where the sender is enrolled in amoney transfer initiation service, the authorization to fund the moneytransfer transaction may be automatic so that a provider of goods (e.g.,the grocery store) may instantly receive the funds of the moneytransfer. Unlike pre-loading or pre-funding a prepaid card, apresentation instrument with the funds designation stored on themagnetic stripe would allow the sender to control, the types ofpurchases that the sender funds because the sender could deny the moneytransfer transaction associated with a purchase.

Further, the funds designation could associate one sender with one typeof payment (e.g., one bill), one sender with multiple types of payments(e.g., multiple bills), multiple senders with one type of payment,and/or multiple senders with multiple types of payments. In this mannera variety of money transfer transactions and funds allocations ampossible using the funds designation.

At block 550, the money transfer host system may stage a money transfertransaction after receiving the money transfer initiation request.Staging a money transfer transaction may involve receiving all thenecessary transfer information (e.g., receiver's name, address, accountinformation, sender's name, address, account information, etc.) settingup the transaction so that the transfer can be executed or completedupon the sender providing an authorization to fond the money transferand/or providing funds for the money transfer. In essence, the moneytransfer transaction is pending only an authorization by the sender tofund the money transfer. Staging a money transfer transaction mayfurther include ensuring that the money transfer complies with at leastone or all money transfer regulations (i.e., pre-clearing the moneytransfer), such as the OFAC regulations described previously. If diemoney transfer is pre-cleared before an authorization is received fromdie sender, the money transfer may be executed immediately uponreceiving the authorization. Since the money transfer transaction isstaged prior to the sender receiving the notification, the recipienthears nearly the entire burden for initiating the money transfertransaction and for ensuring that the money transfer information iscorrect and that the money transfer complies with all applicable rulesand regulations.

At block 560, a transaction, identifier may be generated by the moneytransfer host system, such as a money transfer-control number (MTCN).The transaction identifier can be associated with the staged moneytransfer transaction so that all information associated with the stagemoney transfer transaction can be recalled by providing the transactionidentifier. The transaction identifier may be provided to the sender,receiver, or both. Additionally or alternatively, the receiver mayreceiver the transaction identifier from the money transfer host systemand provide the transaction identifier to the sender. At block 570, themoney transfer host system may provide the sender with a notification ofthe money transfer transaction via the communication address provided inthe sender information. The notification may indicate the amount offunds to be transferred and at least some of the receiver information.For example, the notification may indicate the receiver's full name ormay indicate a representation of the receiver (e.g., an online name) sothat the receiver's identity remains hidden, from the sender. Similarly,the notification may or may not include the receiver's accountinformation so that the account information remains hidden from thesender. Because the receiver can control what information, is providedto the sender and the amount of information or content, the receiver maybe more willing to engage in a money transfer transaction and/or provideinformation for a money transfer transaction.

Additionally, the notification may include a payment facilitator such asthe transaction identifier generated by the money transfer host systemor a hyperlink in an email. The payment facilitator may enable thesender to provide the authorization to fund the money transfer by merelyproviding the payment facilitator to the money transfer host system(e.g., by clicking on the hyperlink in an email or by providing thetransaction identifier). The notification, may further include theaccount information for an account that the receiver requests to receivefunds from (e.g., the sender's bank account, credit card account, etc.).The notification may additionally be a recurring notification such as anotification every month over a specified period, to provide an amountof funds (e.g., every month for 6 months to provide $100 each, month orto provide a variable amount each month)

At block 580, the money transfer host system receives the authorizationfrom the sender to fund the money transfer transaction. Receiving theauthorization may include receiving the transaction identifier only sothat the money transfer is authorised and funded upon receipt of thetransaction identifier. Alternatively, receiving the authorization mayinclude receiving funds from the sender for the money transfertransaction or may include receiving the transaction identifier andreceiving funds. Receiving the authorization may further include someother type of acknowledgement to fund the money transfer transactionsuch as a response to an email hyperlink, a SMS message, otherelectronic message, authorization via telephone communication or to anagent of the money transfer service provider, written authorization,etc. If the notification to the sender includes account information foran account that the receiver requests to receive funds front (e.g., asender's bank account), the authorization may include an instruction toprovide the funds from an account other than the account specified bythe receiver. The sender may further modify the money transfer requestin other ways (e.g., modify the amount of funds, the frequency of therequest, etc.). The modifications may be temporary or permanent.

At block 590, the money transfer host system may receive the funds andexecute the money transfer to transfer the funds from the sender to thereceiver. In some embodiments, the sender may have an account with themoney transfer host system front which the funds may be drawn or themoney transfer host system may automatically draw the funds from anaccount not associated with the host system so that the sender need notprovide funds for each money transfer transaction. At block 595, themoney transfer host system, may apply die received funds in accordancewith any funds designation received at block 540.

The process 500 may additionally include involving a second sender inthe money transfer transaction. In such an embodiment, the moneytransfer initiation request may include second sender information, wherethe second sender information identifies a second sender and identifiesa second communication address associated with the second sender. Theembodiment may also include a total amount offends to be received fromeither the first sender, the second sender, or both. The embodiment mayfurther include providing the first sender and the second sender withthe notification via the first communication address and the secondcommunication address respectively.

The embodiment may additionally include receiving an authorization tofund at least a portion of the money transfer transaction from eitherthe first sender, the second sender, or both. The method mayadditionally include receiving the funds from either the first sender,the second sender, or both and executing a money transfer to transferthe funds from the first sender, the second sender, or both to thereceiver. The embodiment may additionally include applying the fundstowards the total amount of funds and providing the first sender and thesecond sender with an indication of the applied funds in relation to thetotal amount of funds requested.

FIG. 6 illustrates another process 600 for performing a receiverinitiated money transfer. Process 600 may involve a money transfertransaction between one or more providers (e.g., merchant/serviceprovider) and a customer as previously described. At block 610, theprocess 600 may begin with the money transfer host system receiving anenrollment request from the provider, the customer, or both toparticipate in a money transfer initiation service. The enrollment inthe money transfer initiation service may provide the customer and/orprovider with the services previously described. At block 620, the moneytransfer host system may receive one or more payment notices from theprovider for one or more goods and/or services rendered. The paymentnotice may include information about the customer, the amount due, thegoods and/or services rendered, etc. The money transfer host system cangenerate the money transfer request based on the payment notice (e.g.,extracting information) and/or by accessing one or more databases aspreviously described.

At block 630, the money transfer host system may stage the moneytransfer transaction and/or aggregate multiple payment notices aspreviously described. The money transfer host system can aggregate allthe customer's payment notices (e.g., electronic hills sent via email,physical bills sent via mail, etc.). The money transfer host system mayprovide the aggregated payment notices to the customer or may sendindividual payment notices to the customer based on the customerspreference. At block 640, the money transfer host system determineswhether the customer has an account with the money transfer host system,such as if the customer is enrolled in the money transfer initiationservice and/or another service associated, with the money transferservice provider. In some embodiments, the provider may determinewhether the customer has an account with the money transfer host system.For example, the provider (online, in a physical, location, via mail,etc.) may inquire as to whether the customer has an account with themoney transfer service provider (e.g., an account with Western Unioncorporation) to provide the customer with an additional paymentmechanism when purchasing goods and/or services. If the customer has anaccount, the customer may provide tire provider with an account numberso that money transfer requests may be automatically initiated andprovided to the customer's account.

At block 695, if the customer does not have an account with the moneytransfer service provider, the money transfer host system may optionallyprovide the customer with registration information. If the customerregisters for an account or the customer has an account, the moneytransfer host system provides the customer with a notification of thestaged money transfer transaction (block 650). In some embodiments anaccount is not necessary and the process 600 can continue to block 650regardless of if the customer has an account. Providing the customerwith a notification can include providing a link in an email that thecustomer selects to authorize providing funds for the money transfertransaction, or can include providing a transaction identifier aspreviously described.

At block 660, the money transfer host system receives the authorizationfrom the customer to fund the money transfer transaction, such as byreceiving the transaction identifier or receiving the authorizationthrough a hyperlink. At block 670, the money transfer host system,receives the funds from the customer to pay for the goods and/orservices rendered. The funds may be automatically received from anaccount associated with the money transfer service provider, received incash to an agent of the money transfer service provider, etc. If lessthan the total amount of funds requested from multiple providers isreceived from the customer, the money transfer host system may dividethe received funds among the providers according to priority (e.g.,priority due to court mandated child support, etc.) and/or by percentageaccording to a percentage owed to each provider (e.g., 75% to provider Aif 75% of the debt is owed to provider A) and/or according to somecombination, thereof.

At block 680, the money transfer host system, executes the moneytransfer to transfer the funds from the customer to the provider and, atblock 690, the money transfer host system applies the funds to pay forthe goods and/or services rendered.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process 700 for performing a receiver initiatedmoney transfer where the money transfer is initiated using, a mobiledevice. At block 705, a transfer application may be initiated on themobile device. The transfer application may be provided to the mobiledevice from the money transfer host system, such as by providing adownload, application to a cell phone. At block 710, the transferapplication may communicate with the mobile device's contact list toidentify a sender or potential sender of the funds from the contact listand obtain sender information associated with the sender or potentialsender from the contact list. The transfer application can create aprofile on the mobile device for each entity (Individual or business)identified in the contact list.

The profile may be a request button or other indicia that is displayed,on the mobile device that the receiver can select to initiate a moneytransfer request (block 720). In addition to obtaining information fromthe contact list, the transfer application can allow the receiver tomanually enter sender information into the mobile device and/or obtainsender information from another source (e.g., SMS message, etc.) andcreate a profile for such senders (block 715). Alternatively, in someembodiments, the transfer application may not create profiles for theentitles in the contact list, but may access the contact list to obtaininformation about one or more of the entitles when a money transferrequest is initiated.

The transfer application enables the receiver to make money transferinitiation requests on the fly, or in other words to make money transferinitiation requests merely by selecting the a request button or otherindicia, associated, with one or more of the entities. At block 725, thetransfer application may receive a selection of one or more senders fromthe receiver, such as by the receiver selecting one or more requestbuttons or otherwise inputting sender information into the transferapplication.

At blocks 730, the transfer application, may generate the money transferrequest. For example, upon receiving a selection of one or more senders,the transfer application can acquire all necessary information about theone or more senders and about the receiver and compile and/or formatthis information so that the information may be transmitted to the moneytransfer host system and the money transfer transaction automaticallystaged. The information may be obtained from the mobile device's contactlist (e.g., the sender's name, address, phone number, account number,email address, etc. may be extracted from the contact list) and/or theinformation may be requested from the receiver (e.g., request input fromthe receiver). At blocks 735 and 740, the money transfer requestgenerated by the transfer application is transmitted to and received bythe money transfer host system. The money transfer request may includean amount of thuds to transfer to the receiver, receiver information,and/or sender information. The receiver information may identify thereceiver and/or identify an account to which the funds will betransferred. The sender information may identify the sender, identify acommunication address associated with the sender, and/or identify anaccount associated with the sender that the receiver desires to receivefunds from. The money transfer request may be transmitted as an SMSmessage, MMS message, or as any other type of electronic communicationand may be in the form of an invoice. The request may also include afunds designation drat directs how the foods will be allocated uponreceipt as previously described.

At block 745, a money transfer transaction may be staged by the moneytransfer host system after the money transfer request is received. Thestaged money transfer transaction may be folly ready for execution (i.e.pre-cleared, etc.) pending an authorization from the sender to fund themoney transfer transaction. At block 750, the money transfer hostsystem, may provide a notification to the sender via the communicationaddress. The notification may indicate the amount of funds to betransferred, a portion of the receiver information (e.g., full orpartial name, online name, etc.), and/or the account selected by thereceiver to receiver binds from. At block 755, the money transfer hostsystem may receive the authorization indicating the sender's willingnessto fund the money transfer transaction. At block 760, the money transferhost system may optionally receive one or more funds from one or moresenders to fond the money transfer transaction.

At block 765, the money transfer host system may execute the moneytransfer to transfer the funds from the sender to the receiver. At block770, the money transfer host system may track the one or more fundsreceived from the one or more providers and provide this information tothe one or more senders and/or to the receiver so that the parties areaware of the amount of funds received in relation to the total amountoffends requested. At block 775, the money transfer host system mayautomatically generate and provide a contribution response to the one ormore senders, such as a thank you message. The contribution, responsemay be provided anytime after the authorization is received or, in someembodiments, may be provided even when the money transfer request isdenied.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process 800 for performing a receiver initiatedmoney transfer where the money transfer is authorized using a mobiledevice. The process 800 may include initiating a transfer application ona mobile device associated with the sender. The initiation may occur ina similar fashion as that described in relation to FIG. 7. At block 810,the notification from the money transfer host system may be received bythe sender's mobile device and/or by the transfer application on thesenders mobile device. At block 815, the sender may determine whether toaccept the money transfer request and provide an authorization to fondtire money transfer transaction. The authorization response (ordeclination) may be provided to the money transfer host system from thetransfer application on the senders-mobile device, for example byclicking on a accept or decline button. If the sender determines todecline the request, a notification can be sent to the receiver (e.g.,via the money transfer host system or via a mobile device networkprovider) regarding the request declination (block 820). In someembodiments, the sender may use the transfer application to permanentlyblock the receiver from making future money transfer requests to thesender.

if the sender determines to accept the money transfer request, at block825, the sender can determine whether to provide the binds from anaccount designated by the receiver in the money transfer request(assuming the receiver designated an account). If the receiver did notdesignate an account or the sender determines not to provide funds fromthat account, the sender can specify an account to use in funding themoney transfer transaction (block 830). Upon specifying an account touse in funding the transaction, the process 800 proceeds to block 840where die money transfer is executed and the funds are transferred tothe receiver.

In block 825, if the sender determines to provide the funds from theaccount designated by the receiver, the funds are received from thedesignated account (block 835) and the money transfer is executed by themoney transfer host system (block 840) to transfer the funds to thereceiver.

To perform the actions of the money transfer host system and/or any ofthe other previously mentioned computing devices, a computer system asillustrated in FIG. 9 may be used. FIG. 9 is a block diagramillustrating a computer system 900 that is capable of performing themethods and operations of systems according to the embodiments asdescribed herein, and/or can function as the money transfer host system,a remote kiosk/terminal, a point-of-sale device, a mobile device, and/ora computer system. It should be noted that FIG. 9 is meant only toprovide a generalized illustration of various components, any or all ofwhich may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 9, therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer system 900 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 905 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 910, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or mom special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration,processors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 915, which caninclude without limitation a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; and oneor more output devices 920, which can include without limitation adisplay device, a printer and/or the like.

The computer system 900 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more storage devices 925, which can comprise, withoutlimitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or can include,without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an optical storagedevice, solid-state storage device such as a random access memory(“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can be programmableflash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices may be configuredto implement any appropriate data stores, including without limitation,various file systems, database structures, and/or the like.

The computer system 900 might also include a communications subsystem930, which can include without limitation a modem, a network card(wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationfacilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communications subsystem 930 maypermit data to be exchanged with, a network (such as the networkdescribed below, to name one example) other computer systems, and/or anyother devices described herein. In many embodiments, the computer system900 will, further comprise a working memory 935, which can include a RAMor ROM device, as described above.

The computer system 900 also can comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 935, including anoperating system 940, device drivers, executable libraries, and/or othercode, such as one or more application programs 945, which may comprisecomputer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or may bedesigned to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium, such as the storage device(s) 925described above. In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporatedwithin a computer system, such as the system 900. In other embodiments,the storage medium might be separate from a computer system, (e.g., aremovable medium, such as a compact disc), and or provided in aninstallation package, such that the storage medium can be used toprogram, configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer with theinstructions/code stored thereon. These instructions might take the formof executable code, which is executable by the computer system 900and/or might fake the form of source and/or installable code, which,upon, compilation and/or Installation on the computer system 900 (e.g.,using any of a variety of generally available compilers, installationprograms, compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then, takes theform of executable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (Including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer system (such as the computer system 900) to perform, methods inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. According to a setof embodiments, some or all of the procedures of such methods areperformed by the computer system 900 in response to processor 910executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions (which,might be incorporated info the operating system 940 and/or other code,such as an application program 945) contained in the working memory 935.Such instructions may be read into the working memory 935 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as one or more of the storage device(s)925. Merely by way of example, execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in the working memory 935 might cause theprocessor(s) 910 to perform one or more procedures of the methodsdescribed herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using hie computer system 900, various computer-readablemedia might be involved in providing instructions/code to processor(s)910 for execution anchor might be used to store and/or carry suchinstructions/code (e.g., as signals). In many implementations, acomputer-readable medium is a physical and/or tangible storage medium.Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to,non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatilemedia include, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 925. Volatile media include, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 935. Transmission, mediainclude, without limitation, coaxial cables, copper wire and fiberoptics, including the wires that, comprise the bus 905, as well as thevarious components of the communication subsystem 930 (and/or the mediaby which the communications subsystem 930 provides communication withother devices). Hence, transmission media can also take the form ofwaves (including without limitation radio, acoustic and/or light waves,such as those generated during radio-wave and infrared datacommunications).

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable media,include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punchcards, papertape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other mediumfrom which a computer can read, instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 910for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signal's over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer system 900. These signals,which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals,optical signals and/or the like, are all examples of carrier waves onwhich instructions can be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

The communications subsystem 930 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 905 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 935, from which, the processor(s) 905 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 935 may optionally be stored on a storage device 925 eitherbefore or after execution by the processor(s) 910.

It should, be noted that the methods, systems, and devices discussedabove are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed thatvarious embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that,in alternative embodiments, the methods may be performed in an orderdifferent from that described, and that various steps may be added,omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain,embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should beemphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements areexamples and should not be interpreted, to limit the scope of theinvention.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the an that the embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. For example, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid, obscuring the embodiments.This description provides example embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention.Rather, die preceding description of the embodiments will provide thoseskilled in the art with an enabling description for implementingembodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a processwhich is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each maydescribe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operationscan be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order ofthe operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional stepsnot included in the figure. Furthermore, embodiments of the methods maybe implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented. In software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, theprogram code or code segments to perform, the necessary tasks may bestored in a computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform die necessary tasks.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art that various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example, the above elements may merely be acomponent of a larger system, wherein other roles may take precedenceover or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, anumber of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the aboveelements are considered. Accordingly, the above description should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for transferring funds comprising:receiving a communication at a money transfer host system that transmitsand receives data over a network a communication from a receiver mobiledevice, wherein the communication comprises a request to transfer fundsfrom one or more senders, wherein the request includes identificationinformation for the one or more senders, and wherein the requestincludes data entered using an electronically displayed form provided onthe receiver mobile device; sending by the money transfer host system toa sender mobile device a request to transfer the funds; receiving at themoney transfer host system an indication from the sender mobile deviceauthorization to transfer the funds, wherein the indication from thesender mobile device is received via the selection of an accept buttonpresented on the sender mobile device; and executing the money transfer.22. The method for transferring funds according to claim 21, furthercomprising determining whether the sender has an account at the moneytransfer host system.
 23. The method for transferring funds according toclaim 21, wherein the request to transfer funds includes instructionsfor allocating the funds of the money transfer, and wherein executingthe money transfer request includes allocating funds according to theinstructions.
 24. The method for transferring funds according to claim21, further comprising generating a money transfer identifier associatedwith the request.
 25. The method for transferring funds according toclaim 21, wherein the executing the money transfer request includessending to the receiver an indication of a physical location where cashcan be picked up.
 26. The method for transferring funds according toclaim 26, wherein the money transfer request is received over a wirelessnetwork.
 27. A method for transferring funds comprising: receiving at arequester's mobile device sender information that specifies a sender fora money transfer transaction; generating a money transfer request at therequester's mobile device, wherein the money transfer request includesan amount of funds, receiver information, and the sender information;sending the money transfer request to a money transfer host system; andreceiving at the requester's mobile device an indication that funds havebeen transferred from the host system.
 28. The method for transferringfunds according to claim 27, wherein the indication that funds have beentransferred comprises an indication of a physical location where cashcan be picked up to satisfy the money transfer transaction.
 29. Themethod for transferring funds according to claim 27, wherein the moneytransfer request includes a location of the requester's mobile device.30. The method for transferring funds according to claim 27, wherein thesender information comprises information consisting of a sender's name,address, phone number, account number, and email address.
 31. The methodfor transferring funds according to claim 27, further comprisingreceiving contact information associated with the sender from therequester's mobile devices contact list.
 32. The method for transferringfunds according to claim 27, further comprising receiving the sender'sinformation manually through a mobile device user interface.
 33. Themethod for transferring funds according to claim 27, further comprisingformatting the money transfer request for transmission to the moneytransfer host.
 34. The method for transferring funds according to claim27, wherein the receiver information includes a receiver account number.35. The method for transferring funds according to claim 27, wherein thereceiving an indication from the host system that funds have beentransferred includes an indication of a physical location where cash canbe picked up.
 36. A funds transfer system, comprising: a money transferhost system that transmits and receives data over a network, the moneytransfer host system being configured to: receive a request to transferfunds from a receiver mobile device of a receiver, wherein the requestto transfer funds is a fund transfer from one or more senders, whereinthe request includes identification information for the one or moresenders, and wherein the request is received from data entered into anelectronically displayed form provided on the receiver mobile device;send by the money transfer host system to a sender mobile device of asender a request to transfer the funds; receive at the money transferhost system an indication from the sender mobile device authorization totransfer the funds, wherein the indication from the sender mobile deviceis received at the sender mobile device via the selection of an acceptbutton presented on the sender mobile device; and execute the moneytransfer between the sender and the receiver
 37. The method fortransferring funds according to claim 36, wherein the request totransfer funds includes instructions for allocating the funds of themoney transfer, and wherein executing the money transfer requestincludes allocating funds according to the instructions.
 38. The methodfor transferring funds according to claim 36, further comprisinggenerating a money transfer identifier associated with the request. 39.The method for transferring funds according to claim 36, wherein theexecuting the money transfer request includes sending to the receiver anindication of a physical location where cash can be picked up.
 40. Themethod for transferring funds according to claim 36, wherein the moneytransfer request is received over a wireless network.
 41. A methodcomprising: executing a transfer application on a mobile device;presenting using the mobile device a listing of contacts from a contactlist stored on the mobile device; receiving a selection of one or moreof the contacts from the listing of contacts; generating a moneytransfer request at the mobile device, wherein the money transferrequest includes an amount of funds, receiver information, and thesender information associated with the selection of one or more of thecontacts; sending the money transfer request to a money transfer hostsystem; and receiving at the requester's mobile device an indicationthat funds have been transferred from the host system.